| Constellation | |
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| Abbreviation | Aqr |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Aquarii |
| Pronunciation | /əˈkwɛəriəs/, genitive /əˈkwɛəriaɪ/ |
| Symbolism | the Water-Bearer |
| Right ascension | 20h 38m 19.1706s–23h 56m 23.5355s[1] |
| Declination | 03.3256676°–−24.9040413°[1] |
| Area | 980 sq. deg. (10th) |
| Main stars | 10, 22 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 97 |
| Stars with planets | 12 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 2 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 7 |
| Brightest star | β Aqr (Sadalsuud) (2.91m) |
| Messier objects | 3 |
| Meteor showers | March Aquariids Eta Aquariids Delta Aquariids Iota Aquariids |
| Bordering constellations | Pisces Pegasus Equuleus Delphinus Aquila Capricornus Piscis Austrinus Sculptor Cetus |
| Visible at latitudes between +65° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of October. | |
Aquarius is an equatorial constellation of the zodiac, between Capricornus and Pisces. Its name is Latin for "water-carrier" or "cup-carrier", and its old astronomical symbol is &sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Aquarius_symbol_(fixed_width).svg){kind=small}
(♒︎), a representation of water. Aquarius is one of the oldest of the recognized constellations along the zodiac (the Sun's apparent path).[2] It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. It is found in a region often called the Sea due to its profusion of constellations with watery associations such as Cetus the whale, Pisces the fish, and Eridanus the river.[3]
At apparent magnitude 2.9, Beta Aquarii is the brightest star in the constellation.
- ^ a b "Aquarius, constellation boundary". The Constellations. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ Rogers, John H. (February 1998), "Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions", Journal of the British Astronomical Association, 108 (1): 9–28, Bibcode:1998JBAA..108....9R
- ^ Thompson & Thompson 2007.